While overall rates of disconnection from society are likely to trend down as the nation recovers from the Great Recession, history suggests that disconnected young men of color are in danger of being permanently left behind, and this has implications for future generations.

Not only is the phenomenon of the single black woman with children ever increasing but now the single black woman is faced with the prospect of never being married and being happy with the single girl friends, a good job, and a miniature dog. One would question, what does that do for the fate of the black family?

A Black person in America is killed by a police officer or a person protected by the state every 28 hours. We take action in the name of ending anti-Black police-state violence and ask that you join us in nonviolent direct action wherever you are in the world.

If Chicago's policymakers and decision makers are committed to building a new and safer Chicago where all of its residents can thrive, taxpayer dollars must be spent on what our most vulnerable communities need.

When President Obama announced his My Brother's Keeper Initiative, the Black Women's Roundtable was present to witness this historic announcement during Black History Month. We remember vividly the air of excitement and anticipation that reverberated in the room, on social media and across the country.

These goals seek to further the abilities of these young men, who grew up in a world that gives them ample examples of the price of business as usual. However they sit at a point of change, to move the needle is a different direction.

On its face, sure, the President's initiative seems small. In fact the $150 million that has already been invested in the program could probably go a long way to improving circumstances for male youth of color in Chicago alone. But it is a step in the right direction.